fuller



'(NO Model.)

L- M- PULLER- BLANK GARTRIDGB.

No. 604,824. Patented May 8'1, 1898.

lUNITED STATES ATnNT OFFICE.

LAWSON M. FULLER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

BLANK CARTRIDGE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 604,824,- dated May 31,1898.

Application filed February 24, 1897. Serial No. 624,889. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern,.-

Be it known that l, LAwsoN M. FULLER, a citizen of the United States,residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York,have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Blank Cartridges,of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a new and useful improvement in blankcartridges, and, has for its object to make a cartridge of thisdescription which may be used, in a magazine or repeating rifle andwhich shall at the same time be cheaper and safer than cartridgesheretofore used for this purpose.

In the single-loading rilie the blank cartridge is usually inserted inthe bore by hand, and the form of its point does not necessarily differgreatly from that of an empty shell. In a magazine or repeating rifle,however, the cartridge is loaded by mechanical means, and the form andlength of the blank must closely approximate that of the ball-cartridge.4,

I successfully attain the object of my invention by the details ofconstruction and combination of elements hereinafter set forth, and thenspecifically design ated by the claim, In order that those skilled inthe art to which this invention appertains may understand how to makeand use the same, its con' struction and operation will now be describedin detail, referring to the accompanying drawing, forming a part of thisspecification, in which- Figure l shows a yiew in side elevation of acartridge made in'accordance with my improvements. Fig. 2 is alongitudinal sectional view.

In manufacturing the' projectile-shaped part of the cartridge I rollpaper around a mandrel until several layers have been tightly wound. Ithen paste or glue the outer edge of the paper and slip the completedform from the mandrel. This form is preferably that of a hollow frustumof a cone. The paper so formed is then subjected to t-h action of apunch and die, when it is pressed to produce a casing A, slightlyreduced at its inner end, the body portion tapering gradually toward theouter end, thel forward portion being formedin sections, each of saidsections being of less diameter than the portion immediately preceding,the foremost of said sections having its walls reduced in thickness, andsaid casing as a whole having its inner configuration conforming to theouter configuration. PowderB is then placed within the casing andcompressed to give stiffness thereto. The casing then has its reducedrear end tted in the shell S, which is provided with the primer V. Whenplaced in the gun, the shoulders X, formed by the reduced sections, tagainst corresponding shoulders or projections in the bore of the gun,and in action the ring-pin strikes against the primer V, exploding thesame,which in turn ignites the powder within the casing. The gasgenerated tears on the foremost section and forces it from the bore ofthe gun, said result being due to the reduction of the thickness of thewalls of theforemost section and the support aiforded by the shoulders.

Now in my form of cartridge I obtain, first, a cartridge which may bemade from tired cases 0r seconds of new manufacture and one which stillhas the form of the ball-cartridge,

and, second, by the compression of the powder the projectile portion ismade suciently stiff to function properly in the gun and permit of roughusage, and at the same time the paper torn from the portion iscompletely expelled from the bore of the gun, so that no dangerous wadis left therein to form a projectile to be discharged by the nextcartridge exploded.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and usefulis- In combination with a shell of shortened length, a casing having itsrear end reduced and fitted in said shell, the body portion of thecasing forming a continuation with the shell and tapering graduallytoward its outer end, the forward portion of said casing being formed insections, each being less in diameter than that portion immediatelypreceding prod ucing. shoulders which fit against correspondingshoulders or projections in the bore of the gun to prevent the outwardpassage of the rear portionfqf said casing, the foremost section having.its walls reduced in. thickness, the inner configuration of the casingconforming to the outer configuration, a, charge of compressed powderconforming to the inner configuration and lending strength to -saidcasing, and a primer fixed in said shell,

substantially as described.

Irl-testimony whereof I have hereunto afxed my signature in the presenceof two subscribing witnesses.

l LAWSON M. FULLER.

Witnesses:

GEORGE F. OTIs, WILLIAM EwALD.

